RECORD YOUR VIEWS ABOUT DRUG ABUSE

Inquiry: Find Way to Tackle Addiction

CAMPAIGNERS fighting the scourge of drugs and drug-related crime in
Reading will be able to put their views across in a new video booth.

The booth has been installed in the Civic Centre to boost the number
of people taking part in the Drugs Inquiry on Saturday, March 6.

The touch screen video box, on the fourth floor of the civic centre,
will record comments and personal stories made by the public relating
to the town's drug problem.

The inquiry was launched after West Reading's Battle ward councillors
called for more to be done to combat drugs and prostitution around the
Oxford Road area, but that remit has now been extended to incorporate
the whole town.

Reading Borough Council is working with the police, health chiefs and
others to find the best way of tackling the blight of drugs and wants
to hear from people living on the front line of drug abuse and its
related crime to learn more about how it should be dealt with.

The council's corporate, community and external affairs scrutiny panel
will gather the information from the video box for the inquiry.
Councillor Jim Hanley, who chairs the panel, said: "We want to make it
as easy as possible for people to take part in the community drugs
inquiry.

"The video booth is a quick and simple way for people to make a
contribution without having to write or make a telephone call."

Cllr Chris Maskell, who worked with his fellow Battle ward councillors
to bring about the drug inquiry, said: "The introduction of the video
booth is a positive and imaginative way to collect information from
members of the public.

"I would encourage as many people as possible to use the booth so that
we can understand fully the problems we face.

"It is important that we ensure the police and other agencies, who are
working hard to help those caught up in the vicious cycle of drug use
and drug-related crime, are targeting their resources
effectively."

Anyone wanting to leave a message at the video box can visit level
four at the Civic Centre between 9am and 5pm.

The other ways to add your views to the inquiry are to phone (0118)
939 9008, e-mail communityinquiry@reading.gov.uk, log on to the
website at www.reading. gov.uk/servingyou/communityinquiry or text
message the word drugs to 81722 and add your views.